Streamer DAC for Tidal

[Rexp]

So far I have auditioned:

Naim NSC222
Hifi Rose 150B
Cambridge Audio Edge NQ
Electrocompaniet ECM1 mk2

Nothing great so far, any recommendations?

Cheers!
Rex

 

[Rexp]

Tried the Cambridge Audio EVO 150, its class D power amp stage is pretty bad but used as a pre into Cambridge Edge W power amp it sounded pretty good!

 

[Shindohaut]

So far I have auditioned:

Naim NSC222
Hifi Rose 150B
Cambridge Audio Edge NQ
Electrocompaniet ECM1 mk2

Try Auralic g series or Lumin as they make some very fine components. I am also looking at a streaming Dac and lean towards aUralic as it does wifi and it’s interface is better.

 

[Rexp]

Unfortunately no Auralic dealers near me, will check out Lumin, although I have found them overly smooth in the past.

 

[Hear Here]

Recently announced, but not yet available (nor yet reviewed), but perhaps worth investigating if you keep an open mind regarding branding, the NAD M66 ticks all my required boxes on paper - and a lot more if I was into vinyl.

NAD's Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC/Preamplifier Is The Future: High-End Munich 2023

Flagship component offers leading-edge capabilities like BluOS high-resolution music streaming, Dirac Live Room Correction, Dirac Live Bass Control and four independent subwoofer outputs, a first for a two-channel pre-amplifier.

www.ecoustics.com

M66 - NAD Electronics

The Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier is a revolutionary hi-fi component that combines an audiophile-grade DAC with a high-resolution multi-room music streamer. Featuring Dirac Live Room Correction and Dirac Live Bass Control, its elegant design and vibrant 7" touchscreen exudes...

nadelectronics.com

I'm wanting to upgrade my digital front end and have a short list of contenders, including some you list, but I certainly won't make a decision until I've seen and heard the M66.

 

[Rexp]

Listened to the Eversolo DMP A6 Master Edition and TEAC UD701N today.

The TEAC is a definite contender, although their app is quite poor and as usual Tidal Connect sounds bad. Roon is an option that I wasn't able to test.

 

[J007B]

You might want to check out a Gold Note DS-10. I’ve heard it a couple of times and thought it had bang for the buc.

 

[Rexp]

Heard an Aavik S280 today, didn't sound great, although it was via an Aavik C280/P280 pre/pwr which is Class D...

Other thing to note, I did prefer the Aavik app to Roon, which seemed to screw with the imaging.

I wanted to try Aavik after seeing the video below which I thought was using their Streamer DAC but on closer inspection looks like a Linn Streamer DAC is the source, fyi @Mike Lavigne

 

[Rexp]

Heard the following yesterday:

Cocktail Audio X50D streamer into Luxman D-03x CD player/DAC via USB. Sound lacked emotion with Nina Simone's 'Stars (live)'.

Auralic Aries G2.2 streamer into Vega 2.2 DAC. Sounded a tad processed.

Cyrus Classic Stream. Sounded good! Even made normally harsh albums like ' Walter Smith III - Live in Paris' sound listenable.
Need to go back and listen again in a more highly resolving system than the entry level Cyrus amp and Fyne speakers they paired it with.